Apparatus for evacuating an electric filament lamp or discharge tube through a protruding exhaust tube and for sealing off the said exhaust tube



3,233,955 APPARATUS FOR EVACUATING AN ELECTRIC FILAMENT LAMP Feb. 8, 1966 E. BASTIAANSE 0R DISCHARGE TUBE THROUGH A PROTRUDING EXHAUST TUBE ,AND FOR SEALING OFF THE SAID EXHAUST TUBE Filed Aug. 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ERNST BASTIAANSE Feb. 8, 1966 BASTlAANSE 3,233,955

APPARATUS FOR EVACUATINC AN ELECTRIC FILAMENT LAMP OR DISCHARGE TUBE THROUGH A PROTRUDING EXHAUST v TUBE ,AND .FOR SEALING OFF THESAID EXHAUST TUBE Filed Aug. 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl 6 9 I .INVENTOR ERNST BASTIAANSE Z AE."

AGENT United States Patent 2 Claims. (01. 316-30) The invention relates to an apparatus for evacuating an electric filament lamp or discharge tube through a protrudingexhaust tube and'for. sealing off the said exhaust tube, which is provided with at least one holder for the lamp or tube to be treated, with an orifice of a pipe of a pumpsystem into which this exhaust tube may be inserted, andwith a burner for sealing off the said exhaust tube, which is arranged between the holder and the orifice. Usually in such apparatus before the sealing off process the straight current-supply leads projecting from the lamp one on'each side of the exhaust tube are permanently deformed 'by'bending so-that during the sealing off process they occupy a position in which they are not adversely affected by the flame of the gases from the burner. After evacuation and sealing oit the sealed lamp or tube is removed from the orifice of the evacuation pipe and the current supply leads are bent back, that is to say again plastically deformed.

Repeated plastic deformation of the leads may give rise to damage and fracture. In addition the deformed current supply leadsmust afterwards be aligned again in order to enable a cap associated with the lamp to be slipped over the leads.

It is the object of thepresent invention to provide an apparatus in whichthe above-mentioned disadvantages are obviated.

The apparatus in accordance with the invention is characterized in that, viewed in the direction of insertion of, the exhaust tube into the orifice of the evacuation pipe, 21 diverging guide is provided for the current supply leads projecting from the lamp or tube alongside the exhaust tube, the leads on'insertion of the exhaust tube being resiliently bent away from the longitudinal axis of the exhaust tube in the said guide. The provision of a guide diverging from the direction of insertion of the exhaust tube enables the current supply leads to be protected during the sealing off of the exhaust tube against the fiame from the burner. In this process the leads need only be bent slightly with respect to the exhaust tube so that a bending movement within the resilient range of the material of the leads is sufficient. The fact that the leads are only bent resiliently enables them to relax and to return substantially to their initial aligned position when the lamp or tube is removed from the orifice of the evacuation pipe. Separate aligning of the leads subsequent to the sealing off process is no longer required.

In an embodiment of the apparatus the guide comprises two guiding surfaces situated one on each side of the longitudinal axis of the orifice of the evacuation pipe. This embodiment is particularly suitable for lamps and tubes in which the current supply leads protrude one on each side of the exhaust tube.

In one such embodiment each guiding surface forms a part of a channel provided on a common support.

During the insertion of the exhaust tube into the orifice of the evacuation pipe, according to a further embodiment pliers or grippers for centering the exhaust tube may be used which, when closed, embrace the exhaust tube during 3,233,955 Patented Feb. 8, 1966 part of the insertion movement and slidably support it in a centered position. In a particular design the plier jaws have a bevelled outer profile which, in the closed position of the pliers, form extensions of the guiding surfaces for the current supply leads, which surfaces diverge from the direction of insertion of the exhaust tube. As a result the introduction of the leads into the diverging guide during the insertion movement is particularly simplified.

In order that the invention may readily be carried into effect, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference. to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a filament lamp to be evacuated in which the current supply leads protruding from the lamp are bent in a known manner during the process of sealing off the exhaust tube;

FIGS. 2 and3 are side elevations of the apparatus in accordance with the invention showing the principal structural components, FIG. 2 being an elevation along the line II.II of FIG. 3 while FIG. 3 is an elevation along the line III-e111 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5 to 9 are diagrammatic views serving to illustrate the operation ofthe apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 by showing a number of positions of the lamp during the insertion of the exhaust tube into the orifice of the evacuation pipe.

In the process of evacuating an electric filament lamp 1 and of sealing an exhaust tube 2 at a point 3, in a known method current supply leads 4 and 5 of the lamp are bent back with respect to the exhaust tube 2 into a position shown by broken lines in FIG. 1. In this position the leads 4 and 5 are not adversely affected by a flame from a sealing otf burner directed onto the exhaust tube 2 at right angles thereto. After the exhaust tube has been sealed off, the leads are bent back to their initial position and aligned in order to enable a lamp cap to he slipped onto them.

For the process of evacuating the lamp 1 and sealing 011 the exhaust tube 2 anapparatus as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be used. This apparatus includes a standard 7 secured to a table 6 and supporting an annular lampholder 8. A stationary orifice 17 of an evacuation pipe 16 is located below the lampholder 8. The evacuation pipe 16 contains a resilient member 18 which is enclosed between the pipe 16 and a nut 27 in the manner shown. The nut is readily rotatable with respect to the evacuation pipe 16 in known manner. By screwing down the nut 27 the internal cross-sectional area of the resilient member 18 is reduced. This resilient member forms a packing for the exhaust tube 2 of the lamp 1 to be passed through. The table further carries a support 15 for a sealing burner 13 from which a flame 14 may emerge.

When the lamp 1 is to be evacuated and the exhaust tube 2 is to be sealed off, the lamp is lowered, with the exhaust tube 2 pointing downwards and with the leads 4 and 5 bent back, into the holder 8 and the exhaust tube 2 is inserted into resilient member 18. The nut 27 is then screwed down. Subsequently the lamp 1 supported by the holder 8 is evacuated through the exhaust tube 2 and this tube is sealed oti with the aid of the flame 14.

By arranging a construction shown in the drawing between the holder 8 and the orifice 17 of the evacuating pipe the leads 4 and 5 protruding from the lamp need not be bent into the position shown by broken lines in FIG. 1. Said construction comprises a plate 10 which is secured to the standard 7 and contains two inclined or divergent sheath-like guide members 11 and 12 for the leads of the lamp. Inthe plate 10 are further provided an aperture 39 through which the exhaust tube may be passed "b el) and two apertures 31 and 32 through which the leads may be passed when the exhaust tube 2 is inserted into the' orifice 17. The sheath-like guide members 11 and 12 each comprise a guide surface 19 and 20 respectively diverging from the direction of insertion;

Further pliers or grippers 21 are provided which, when closed, occupy the position shown in FIG. 2. The jawsto slide in a stationaryguide member 24 inthe direction indicated by an arrow 25.1] t

The apparatus operates as follows (FIGS.,5 to 9): with the aid of a holder 35 in the form of a suction cup,;the lamp to be treated is moved to a position :above the holder and 23 embrace the end of the exhaust tube 2. In *the closed position of thev pliers the exhaust tube is then centered (FIG. 6). Adjustment is such that the exhaust tube is slidably embraced and centered by: the closed pliersr Theholder 35 is now lowered furtherand the centered exhaust tube 2 'is passedfthrough theycloselyv encircling aperture 30 .of the plate 10.: In this movement the leads 4 and 5 engage the bevelled surfaces of the jaws 22, and- 23 was to be spread apart. The insertion movement is continued until the leads 4 and 5 enter in the:apertures 31 and returned-to the rest position along the guide 24. Subsequently thela'mp 1 is lowered as far as possible; andthe exhaust tube 2 is inserted into the orifice 17 '(FIGQS) In this position the lampis mainlysupported by the upper; surface of the plate andin this position'may be evacuated and sealed on. A

' The leads 4 andS spread in the sheath-like guide mem bers Hand 12 are protected againstthe flame 14 inthe sealing off'process (FIG. 4). This flame now extends'bei V tween the sheath 1 1 and 12 sothat it cannot-reach the leads 4 and 5.

By the provisionof the described guide surfaces 19jand and 32 of the plate 10;, The leads now hear on the guide surfaces-19 and 20 s(FIG. 7 Thenthepliers are opened- 20 diverging from the direction ,of insertion of the exhaust,

tube 2 into the orifice 17; it is suflicient for the leads 4 and 5 to be spread apart comparatively slightly so thatthey from the orifice 17 the leads to' their initial aligned position (FIG.' 9)". Due to the fact that the, leads 4 and 5 :are resiliently relaxed subsew:

quent aligning of the. leads in order to enable a lamp cap to he slipped onto thcmiisgno longer necessary 7 What. is claimed is::

1. In an apparatus-for evacuating an electric 'filament lamp through a projectingexhausrtube and ,for sealing 01f said exhausttnbe, aholder for the lamp: to be treated, an evacuating system having apipe; said exhaust-"tube being adapted to "be inserted ;in thexorificeof said pipe 3. burner arranged between said holder, and said orifice andhavinga-flame for sealing ofi' said exhaust tube, the

improvement comprising guide members being divergent as viewed in the direction of the insertion of said exhaust tube in the orifice of said pipe, saiddivergent guide members being directed downwardly andtbeing spaced tsufii cientlyl to permitthe projecting ejxhaust'tube to be' in-- serted therebetween, and eachijof ls aid'diver'gelnt guidet vmembers forming an enclosure for said leads that prevents, direct contact? ofthe flame of said burner-with said leads,v the angular, :position of said guide. membersirelative to thelongitudinal axis of. said exhau'st tubebeing suchas r to resiliently bendithe leads? vof said vlamp ,a relatively small distance from said axis of the .exhausttubeWhen the latter isvinserted in said-orifice whereby: said leads return automaticallyjto theibnormal position when the leads are released from said idiver'gentfiguide 'members. 2;. An apparatusflfor evacuating ,an;,electric, filament lamp as claimed in claim lf'further comprising grippers. for said exhaust tube ua stationary guide .member; said grippers being adapted to slid'e' in: said stationary gnide member toward and away'from anrarea-above said 'divergent guidefmembers! References Cited by therExaminer V UNITED,STATES;PATENTS- 7 1,626,679 '5/1927' Kelly 29-2s.1. 2,006,771 7/1935 Kayko etial. ,316 30- 2,215,100 9/:1-940- X Gustint s3 ss FRANK E;BAILEYrPrimdryExaminer.

- RICHARD H.- EANES, GRANVILLE Y.- CUSTER, In,

- Examiners 1 43nd returnsubstan-tially 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR EVACUATING AN ELECTRIC FILAMENT LAMP THROUGH A PROJECTING EXHAUST TUBE AND FOR SEALING OFF SAID EXHAUST TUBE, A HOLDER FOR THE LAMP TO BE TREATED, AN EVACUATING SYSTEM HAVING A PIPE, SAID EXHAUST TUBE BEING ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED IN THE ORIFICE OF SAID PIPE, A BURNER ARRANGED BETWEEN SAID HOLDER AND SAID ORIFICE AND HAVING A FLAME FOR SEALING OFF SAID EXHAUST TUBE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING GUIDE MEMBERS BEING DIVERGENT AS VIEWED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE INSERTION OF SAID EXHAUST TUBE IN THE ORIFICE OF SAID PIPE, SAID DIVERGENT GUIDE MEMBERS BEING DIRECTED DOWNWARDLY AND BEING SPACED SUFFICIENTLY TO PERMIT THE PROJECTING EXHAUST TUBE TO BE INSERTED THEREBETWEEN, AND EACH OF SAID DIVERGENT GUIDE MEMBERS FORMING AN ENCLOSURE FOR SAID LEADS THAT PREVENTS DIRECT CONTACT OF THE FLAME OF SAID BURNER WITH SAID LEADS, THE ANGULAR POSITION OF SAID GUIDE MEMBERS RELATIVE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID EXHAUST TUBE BEING SUCH AS TO RESILIENTLY BEND THE LEADS OF SAID LAMP A RELATIVELY SMALL DISTANCE FROM SAID AXIS OF THE EXHAUST TUBE WHEN THE LATTER IS INSERTED IN SAID ORIFICE WHEREBY SAID LEADS RETURN AUTOMATICALLY TO THEIR NORMAL POSITION WHEN THE LEADS ARE RELEASED FROM SAID DIVERGENT GUIDE MEMBERS. 